Film suggests hollow achievement has trumped critical thinking, creativity

Posted in Education
by Lorain County Moms

By Carol McGraw, The Colorado Springs Gazette

Has the achievement treadmill destroyed students’ love of learning and led to disengagement, burnout and an inability to think critically and creatively?

That’s the viewpoint of the documentary “Race to Nowhere, the Dark Side of America’s Achievement Culture.”

According to the film’s creators, students are victims of a “culture of hollow achievement and pressure to perform.” That atmosphere has led to an epidemic of stress-related illnesses and depression, and an uninspired generation that is unprepared for college and the workplace.

It follows another documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” which also viewed the education system as broken.

“We want people to consider what is happening in education and get involved,” said Amber Cote, school readiness manger at Pikes Peak United Way. “Whether they have kids or not, the education of children impacts all of us.”

She has previewed the film and said, ” ‘Superman’ looked at lower income students and their lack of access to quality education. This one looks at kids who have all the opportunity in the world, “almost too much.”
She said the first community event “got people talking and thinking about education and emotionally moved to take action.”

Some were inspired to become involved in the United Way Education initiative that includes support of literacy programs, volunteering in early learning centers and a program to place books in low income centers and pediatrician offices.

Mike Stahl, executive director of Pikes Peak Education Association,” suggests people see “Race to Nowhere,” in part, because most community members don’t get to be in the schools every day, and thus have a distant view. “It’s important for people to talk about what education can and should look like.”

In the competitive market to get into colleges, kids are killing themselves, figuratively and literally, he said. Negative results include dropouts, eating and behavioral disorders, depression and even suicide.
“We don’t listen enough to our kids and their needs and concerns in classrooms,” Stahl said. “They do school rather than be engaged. They go through the motions to get grades and test results and to prepare resumes. Many aren’t getting much out of it.”

The documentary will be in theaters this spring. To read more about it, visit Facebook.com/Racetonowhere or www.racetonowhere.com.